Leics County League: Egerton Park fight back to grab winning draw

Promotion-chasing Egerton Park took the lion’s share of the points against Electricity Sports to consolidate third place in Division Three.

Only seven points and two places separated the teams at the start of play, but Park’s promotion push looked to be heading for a severe setback after a disastrous start.

They were asked to bat first and were quickly reduced to 80-5 as a hat-trick claimed Glover, Webster and Madden without scoring.

But it was another 177 runs and 25 overs before the next wicket fell, Dave ‘Horner’ Burdett caught at long on, three short of his century as he tried to make the milestone with only a couple of balls left of the innings.

His 97 came off 71 balls included five sixes and eight fours, one huge maximum being dispatched onto the roof of the three-storey pavilion.

Zaheer Hussain was the other half of the massive partnership, making a professional and chance-less 103 not out. His innings came off 119 balls and included 13 fours.

The buoyant visitors marvelled at the delightful stand over tea, but realised it was not going to be easy to take 10 wickets on a pitch not offering a great deal for the bowlers.

Panchal and Watchorn bowled well, reducing the home side to 45-5 after 15 overs.

But it was the sixth wicket again which proved the most fruitful as 113 runs were scored, but arguably more importantly the partnership lasted 23 overs and extinguished any hopes Park had of forcing the victory and taking maximum points.

On Saturday, Park host second-placed Illston Abbey in what could be a season-defining game.